Efficacy of pain point injection and scapulohumeral articulation adhesiolysis under propofol anesthesia and brachial plexus block in the treatment of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis

Objective To observe the efficacy of pain point injection and scapulohumeral articulation adhesiolysis under combined anesthesia in the treatment of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods Forty-eight patients with scapulaohumeral periarthritis were randomly divided into combined anesthesia group and pain point injection addition group, 24 cases in each group. Patients in the combined anesthesia group were treated with scapulohumeral articulation adhesiolysis under intravenous propofol injection and brachial plexus block, while patients in the pain point injection addition group were treated with the same procedure in addition to pain point injection. All patients were assessed with NRS and the function of joint motion before the treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after the treatment. Results NRS was significantly lower in the pain point injection addition group than that in the combined anesthesia group at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month after the treatment (P 0.05). The rate of excellent effect was higher in the pain point injection addition group than that in the combined anesthesia group at 1 day, 1 week after the treatment respectively (79% vs 25%, 83% vs 42%, P 0.05). Conclusion The pain relief and the function of joint motion can be improved with scapulohumeral articulation adhesiolysis under pain point injection combined with intravenous propofol and brachial plexus block in the treatment of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis. Key words: Scapulohumeral periarthritis; Injection, pain point; Shoulder joint; Manipulation release